A map information display apparatus for displaying map information on the basis of information on image-capturing times and image-capturing positions that are respectively associated with a plurality of captured images includes a captured image extraction unit configured to extract images captured within a predetermined time period that includes the image-capturing time of a predetermined captured image from among the plurality of captured images; a map area selection unit configured to select an area of a map so as to include the image-capturing positions of the captured images extracted by the captured image extraction unit by using as a reference the image-capturing position of the predetermined captured image; and a map information display unit configured to display map information in such a manner that the area of the map, which is selected by the map area selection unit, is displayed.
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1. A map information display control apparatus for controlling display map information comprising: an image obtaining unit configured to obtain captured images captured by an image capturing unit; a map area selection unit configured to select an area of a map so as to include image-capturing positions of the captured images; a changed-image-position determination unit configured to, after a predetermined captured image is changed to another captured image among the plurality of captured images, determine whether or not an image-capturing position of the another captured image is positioned within the area selected by the map area selection unit, wherein the map area selection unit does not change the area of the map after the changed-image-position determination unit determines that the another captured image is positioned within the selected area, and changes the area of the map so that the another captured image is used as a reference after the changed-image-position determination unit determines that the another captured image is positioned outside the selected area; and a map information display control unit configured to control a display to display map information to include the area of the map selected by the map area selection unit.
A map display system displays map information along with captured images. It obtains captured images, and selects a map area encompassing the locations where the images were taken. When the displayed image changes, the system checks if the new image's location is within the current map area. If it is, the map area remains unchanged. If the new image location falls outside the current map area, the system redraws the map focused around the new image location. The system then controls a display to show the map information.
2. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map area selection unit selects the area of the map so as to include the image-capturing positions of the captured images with the image-capturing position of the predetermined captured image being the center of the area of the map.
The map display system selects the map area, which includes the image-capturing positions of the captured images, centering the selected map area on the location where the currently displayed image was captured. The map is dynamically re-centered as needed when the selected (predetermined) image changes to another image.
3. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: an indicator information display unit configured to control the display to display first indicator information indicating the image-capturing position of the predetermined captured image within the map information.
The map display system controls the display to show a first indicator that shows the image-capturing position of the currently selected (predetermined) captured image on the displayed map.
4. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the indicator information display unit controls the display to display, as the first indicator information, a thumbnail of the predetermined captured image or an icon corresponding to the image-capturing position of the predetermined captured image.
The map display system displays a thumbnail of the currently selected (predetermined) captured image, or an icon representing the location where the current image was taken, as the first indicator on the map. This first indicator represents the location of the current image on the map.
5. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the indicator information display unit controls the display to display second indicator information indicating the image-capturing positions of the captured images within the map information.
The map display system controls the display to show second indicators showing the locations where other captured images were taken within the map information. These second indicators represent the locations of other images on the map.
6. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the indicator information display unit controls the display to display, as the second indicator information, thumbnails of the captured images or icons corresponding to the image-capturing positions of the captured images.
The map display system displays thumbnails of the other captured images, or icons representing the locations where the images were taken, as the second indicators on the map. These thumbnails or icons show the locations of other captured images.
7. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: an image information display unit configured to control the display to display the predetermined captured image or a thumbnail of the predetermined captured image in a display area differing from a display area in which the map information is displayed.
The map display system controls the display to show the currently selected (predetermined) captured image, or a thumbnail of the image, in a separate display area from the map.
8. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the display area of the predetermined captured image or the thumbnail of the predetermined captured image is superimposed on the display area in which the map information is displayed.
The display area showing the currently selected (predetermined) captured image or its thumbnail is overlaid on top of the map display area. The image or its thumbnail is displayed on top of the map display.
9. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined captured image is a most recently captured image among the plurality of captured images.
The currently selected (predetermined) captured image that the map display focuses on is the most recently captured image. The map focuses on the location where the most recent image was captured.
10. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a route information obtaining unit configured to obtain route information indicating information on a plurality of position information; and a route information extraction unit configured to extract the route information, wherein the map area selection unit selects, by using the position information, an area of a map in which an obtained position of the route information extracted by the route information extraction unit are contained.
The map display system obtains route information which includes multiple position data points and extracts this route information. The system then selects a map area that includes the position data points from the extracted route information. The map displays the route.
11. The map information display apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising: an indicator information display unit configured to control the display to display third indicator information indicating the obtained position of the route information extracted by the route information extraction unit within the map information.
The map display system controls the display to show third indicator information showing the locations of the route information points on the map. These third indicators display the route on the map.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to implement functions of the map information display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 .
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program, when executed, causes a computer to perform the functions of any of the map information display systems described above (claims 1-11).
13. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a captured image extraction unit configured to extract images captured within a predetermined time period that includes the image-capturing time of the predetermined captured image from among the plurality of captured images, wherein the map area selection unit selects the area of the map so as to include the image-capturing positions of the captured images extracted by the captured image extraction unit by using as a reference the image capturing position of the predetermined captured image.
The map display system extracts captured images taken within a specific timeframe of the currently selected (predetermined) image. The map area is selected based on the image-capturing positions of these extracted images, using the image-capturing position of the current image as a reference point. The map focuses on a cluster of nearby images.
14. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map area selection unit selects the area of the map so as to include an image group based on a distance between image-capturing positions corresponding to the plurality of captured images.
The map display system selects a map area that contains a group of captured images, based on the distances between the locations where the images were taken. The map focuses on a cluster of nearby images.
15. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a map information obtaining unit configured to obtain map information via a wide-area or local network.
The map display system retrieves map information from a wide-area network like the internet, or from a local network. The map data is obtained from a network source.
16. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the map information includes at least one of position information, direction information, scale information, latitude and longitude information, geographical information, geomorphic information, information on buildings that exist at each location, and place names.
The map information that the map display system obtains includes at least one of: location information, direction information, scale information, latitude and longitude, geographical information, geomorphic information, building information, and place names. This map data provides detailed map information.
17. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map information display control unit controls the display to change display of the map information by scrolling, expanding or reducing.
The map display system controls the map display to change the map view by scrolling, zooming in (expanding), or zooming out (reducing). The user can manipulate the map view.
18. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a touch panel unit configured to receive user input to change the predetermined captured image.
The map display system includes a touch panel which allows the user to change the currently selected (predetermined) captured image through touch input. The user can choose which image to focus the map on.
19. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the area selected by the map area selection unit is rectangular, oval shape, polygon or predetermined area of the map.
The map area selected by the map display system is a rectangular, oval, polygon, or other predefined shape on the map. The selected map area can take various shapes.
20. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map information display control unit controls the display to change an indicator as a result of changing the predetermined image performed before the map information is changed.
The map display system updates an indicator on the display after the currently selected (predetermined) image is changed, but before the map information changes. The indicator is updated before the map is re-centered or zoomed.
21. The map information display control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the map information display control unit controls the display to change an indicator as a result of changing the predetermined image performed after the map information is changed.
The map display system updates an indicator on the display after the map information changes, as a result of changing the currently selected (predetermined) image. The indicator is updated after the map is re-centered or zoomed.
22. A map information display control method for controlling display map information, the map information display method comprising: obtaining captured images captured by an image capturing unit; selecting an area of a map so as to include image-capturing positions of the captured images, wherein the selecting includes determining whether an image-capturing position of another captured image is positioned within the area selected after a predetermined captured image is changed to the another captured image among the plurality of captured images; not changing the area of the map after it is determined that the another captured image is positioned within the selected area; and changing the area of the map so that the another captured image is used as a reference after it is determined that the another captured image is positioned outside the selected area; and controlling a display to display map information to include the area of the map that is selected.
A map display method involves obtaining captured images, then selecting a map area to include the locations where the images were taken. The selection process checks if the location of a newly selected image is within the current map area. If the new location is within the current area, the map area remains unchanged. If the new location is outside the current area, the map area is re-centered to use the new image's location as a reference. The system then displays the map information.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 16, 2012
June 11, 2013
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